Grant Glossary

Core Grant Terms

Grant — A financial award given to support a project, program, or organization, usually with no repayment required.

Funder — The organization providing the grant (foundation, corporation, government agency, etc.).

Applicant — The organization or individual applying for the grant.

Eligibility — Requirements an applicant must meet to qualify for a grant.

Award — The amount of funding granted to the applicant.

Application Components

LOI (Letter of Inquiry) — A brief introduction sent to a funder to determine interest before submitting a full proposal.

Proposal — The full application describing the project, budget, and need.

Narrative — The written portion of a proposal explaining the project’s purpose, activities, and impact.

Budget — A financial breakdown of how grant funds will be used.

Budget Narrative — A written explanation of the budget line items.

Attachments — Required documents such as IRS letters, financials, or board lists.

Funding Types

Program Grant — Funding for a specific program or service.

Operating Grant — Flexible funding for general organizational expenses.

Capacity‑Building Grant — Funding to strengthen internal systems, staff, or infrastructure.

Capital Grant — Funding for buildings, renovations, or major equipment.

Matching Grant — Requires the organization to raise additional funds to “match” the grant.

Challenge Grant — Funding released only after specific goals or milestones are met.

Funder Types

Private Foundation — A nonprofit funded by an individual, family, or corporation.

Corporate Foundation — A foundation funded by a business or corporation.

Community Foundation — A public charity that manages funds for local giving.

Government Agency — Federal, state, or local entities offering public grants.

Deadlines & Cycles

Rolling Deadline — Applications accepted at any time.

Fixed Deadline — A specific date by which applications must be submitted.

Funding Cycle — The schedule funders follow for reviewing and awarding grants.

Reporting Deadline — When progress or financial reports must be submitted.

Evaluation & Review

Competitiveness Score — A rating of how strong a match the opportunity is for your organization.

Funder Alignment — How well your mission matches the funder’s priorities.

Review Panel — Group of experts who evaluate proposals.

Scoring Criteria — Standards used to judge applications.

Post-Award Terms

Grant Agreement — Contract outlining terms, expectations, and reporting requirements.

Disbursement — Release of grant funds.

Compliance — Meeting all requirements set by the funder.

Outcome Measures — Metrics used to evaluate project success.

Final Report — Summary of results, spending, and impact submitted at the end of the grant period.

Research & Strategy Terms

Prospect Research — Identifying potential funders aligned with your mission.

Grant Pipeline — A structured plan for pursuing multiple grants over time.

Strategic Sequencing — Prioritizing grants in an order that maximizes success.

Readiness Assessment — Evaluating whether your organization is prepared to apply.